Says our forces’ response forced India to seek a ceasefire within hours of the skirmish
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the armed forces for their “historic response” to India in the Marka-e-Haq as the nation marked the first anniversary of the victory on Sunday.
The Prime Minister was addressing a Marka-e-Haq anniversary ceremony at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad attended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Naval Staff, Adfeder Ahmed Naval Staff, Admir Ahmed Naval Staff Ministers, foreign dignitaries and families of martyrs who lost their loved ones in Marka-e-Haq and the war against terrorism.
Addressing the assembly, the prime minister said India had leveled allegations against Pakistan last year after the “tragic” Pahalgam incident despite Islamabad offering an internationally transparent probe into the matter.
Read: CDF Munir warns against any future calamity, says response would be ‘far-reaching and painful’
He, however, said that the “cowardly enemy” as in the past, imposed an unprovoked war on Pakistan under the cover of darkness by attacking mosques, innocent children and civilians.
“Our brave forces gave a historic response to the enemy’s night attack,” he said.
“When our lion-hearted soldiers entered the battlefield and our Shaheens swooped down on the enemy, the cowardly enemy was overwhelmed. Our Fatah missiles destroyed India’s air defense system,” he added.
“There was dominance of our Shaheens everywhere and wreckage of enemy aircraft on all sides,” he said, adding that this forced India to seek a ceasefire within four hours of the skirmish.
Calling it a victory for Pakistan’s “national honour, principles and self-respect”, the prime minister declared May 10 as “Youm-e-Marka-e-Haq”, which, he said, would be observed every year with patriotism and fervour, without a holiday.
Paying tribute to the martyrs, their families and the nation, Prime Minister Shehbaz praised CDF Munir for “writing new chapters of courage” during the conflict. “History will always remember the field marshal’s wise and courageous leadership in golden words,” he said.
The Prime Minister also praised the Air Chief Marshal and the Pakistan Air Force, saying they had crushed enemy claims about its air power.
Also read: President, PM pay tribute to armed forces on first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
He also paid tribute to the naval chief and the Pakistan Navy, saying they created such deterrence that the enemy “did not dare to enter maritime borders”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked brotherly and friendly countries for their unwavering diplomatic support during the conflict, while in particular thanking US President Donald Trump for what he described as a “historic role” in saving millions of lives in the region.
“If the flames of war between two nuclear powers had intensified further, the consequences would have been dire,” he said, adding that President Trump played a crucial role in securing a ceasefire “without wasting a moment”.
The Prime Minister also thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other friendly countries for supporting Pakistan’s stand.
He particularly thanked China, President Xi Jinping, the Chinese leadership and the Chinese nation for extending political, diplomatic and moral support to Pakistan, saying they had fulfilled the “right of unforgettable friendship”.
Referring to Pakistan’s recent diplomatic efforts, the prime minister said Islamabad was making sincere efforts for peace in Iran.
He added that Islamabad had played a role in getting both sides to agree to a ceasefire and had also played a key role in bringing them to the negotiating table for the first time since 1979.
He said Pakistan’s efforts for lasting peace in the region and the world continue. “Right now, the field marshal told me that Iran’s response has been received,” he said, without elaborating.
Raising his voice for the people of Gaza and the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Prime Minister said that Pakistan had consistently extended moral, diplomatic and political support to them at all international fora.
Read more: The nation rallies behind forces on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq
He said this support would continue until the people of Palestine and the IIOJK were able to “breathe into an atmosphere of freedom”.
Referring to losses in the war against terrorism, the Prime Minister said that officers and soldiers of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies continued to sacrifice their lives in operations against “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan” in defense of the fatherland.
